Does anyone know the origin of the A, B, C, M, X classification system for solar flares? I'm curious as to why it jumps from C to M and then to X (instead of A, B, C, D, E, for example). I figured there might be a historical explanation, like with the OBAFGKM stellar classification system, but searching online I've so far come up empty-handed.
Re: Solar Flare classification origin
Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 2:42 am
by neufer
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Rules For wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:37 pm
Does anyone know the origin of the A, B, C, M, X classification system for solar flares? I'm curious as to why it jumps from C to M and then to X (instead of A, B, C, D, E, for example).
The A, B, C's are mere child's play.
M & X are warnings
The Roman numeral M is 1000 ... times stronger than an A class The Roman numeral X is 10 ... times stronger than an M class
Rules For wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:37 pm
Does anyone know the origin of the A, B, C, M, X classification system for solar flares? I'm curious as to why it jumps from C to M and then to X (instead of A, B, C, D, E, for example).
The A, B, C's are mere child's play.
M & X are warnings :!:
The Roman numeral M is 1000 ... times stronger than an A class :?: The Roman numeral X is 10 ... times stronger than an M class :?:
I think that A and B classes came later. The original classification (using peak x-ray flux) was C, M, X. Which, with 100, 1000, 10 doesn't quite fit the Roman numeral hypothesis. Compact, medium, extreme? Common, medium, x-ray? Not sure, and not obvious.
